Montgomery Decor

The commercial lighting as the name suggests, are the ones that are used in the commercial places for illumination of the premises. The commercial lighting are installed in the commercial buildings. These buildings are called commercial because a lot of business activities take place in their premises and because of the involvement of business interests of many are at stake hence the lighting of these areas is specially designed by the interior designers and professionals. The residential lighting is for the utility purpose generally.

The positioning acts in a way so as to dictate the final appearance of the outdoor home. On the other hand, commercial outdoor lighting generally means using different colors, designs as well as intensities. Such a difference is meant to keep the customers in a happier state of mind and be more excited about being present on the commercial property.

With a lot of people visiting the commercial places for their business interests, these infrastructures need to have appropriate lighting and also stand apart in terms of aesthetics. The outdoor lighting here is done strategically to ensure proper illumination and desired impact on the customers. The hidden lightings near the pole and steep walls give a spectacular look to whole structure. The lighting in the commercial places should be done in a way that no corner is left without illumination. The proper lighting also discourages miscreants to attempt any thing bad.

Variety in Commercial Lighting

The effects of different coloured lighting have been found on the psychology of people. It has been observed that bright colours like red attract more customers and lift the moral and spirits of the customers. You should take advantage of these coloured lighting for the upliftment of the business interests. The colored lighting also add that extra zing to the shop or area and this might attract more customers.

The commercial outdoor lighting though are expensive, and consume more power, but that’s how it is designed. The commercial lighting needs to give an impact of huge and larger than life effects and this does not come at small price! The commercial lighting does need careful handling not only because of the wirings and the fittings they have but also due to their sheer size which , when unstable, might be a cause of potential accident. The commercial lighting are one of the mainstay of the outdoor lighting business.

The business centers and the shopping complexes support such kind of illumitaion techniques to enhance not only their area but the whole complex, this also gives an aura to the whole building itself.

If you’ve ever been to a concert then you have probably been wowed by the amazing display of lighting. The techniques used in musical concert are only used to enhance the mood of the music being played. Whether it’s indoor or outdoor these lighting techniques uses subtleties in order to highlight the band playing without being to overwhelming.

Are you looking for something new for you landscaping? Concert lighting outdoors could be the special addition you need. Here are some tips to help you with your concert outdoor lighting.

Rule #1 – Back Lights

If we compare concert outdoor lighting to real concert lighting, the major difference is that during a real concert, most of the light comes from the front, they use big spotlights and flood lights to illuminate the center of the action. Has for concert outdoor lighting the light should always come from behind what you are trying to illuminate. You see your goal is to establish a relaxing mood and identify what you are trying to light at the same time. You will achieve this by placing the lights behind, creating an interesting play of shadow and light.

Rule #2 – Who’s the star?

Most of the time musical formations have a leader; this leader is the one we see the most. This rule can also be applied to your concert outdoor lighting; we will need to determine what the masterpiece of your concert outdoor lighting setup is. It could be things like:

- Decorative fountain

- Your prize Rosebush

- Or any other part of your landscape.

But choose the one that you like the most. This is where we deviate from the rule #1. This center piece alone is the only one who is allowed to have any light come from the front, this is the only exception.

Rule #4 – Colors are important

One of the most important factors about your concert outdoor lighting is colors. Most people don’t realize that the color of your lighting plays an important role in the mood you are trying to create. This is easily achievable since today most outdoor lighting fixtures are available with LED displays, which can easily, at very little cost, provide color to your concert outdoor lighting.

Rule #5 – Use Variety and Simplicity

To create an amazing display of light you will need to use different and complementary colors for your back lights. The same goes for what you will use to illuminate your centerpiece. The goal here is to set the mood without illuminating too much, this is very important. Don’t fall in the trap of illuminating too much, this will create glare and your concert outdoor lighting setup will be too bright to look at in the dark. As I said, use color for your back lights to set a relaxing mood.

Make sure you follow These 5 basics rules, doing this will make sure you have an amazing outdoor concert lighting display.

Do you love to burn scented candles? Chances are you are one of the millions who do or you know someone who does!

You know you can get candles at your local Dollar Store but you may want to ask yourself if you would rather pay more for a candle and have some guarantee of what exactly your candle is made.

When you look for a candle, here are some qualities to consider:

Scent:

Do you like the scent? There are so many scents to choose from. Make sure you find one you absolutely love!

Will the scent last to the bottom of the jar or will it dissipate after a couple of burnings? A candle made with good – quality oils or perfumes whether natural or synthetic will have scents that last from the top of the jar to the last flicker of the candle.

Will the scent have ‘throw’? Meaning will the scent permeate the room as the candle burns?

What ingredients make up the scent? Did the manufacturer use quality perfumes? Are they natural scents or synthetic?

These are questions that you may want to ask before you purchase your next candle.

Wicks:

Look for a wick made from 100% cotton and avoid any with lead or other metals. If you can, find out from the candle manufacturer what the wick is made of.

Waxes:

Many candle companies are making candles with natural plant-based waxes including soy and beeswax. These candles burn ‘cleaner’ than traditional candles made with paraffin.

You will notice with nautral wax candles that the container you burn these candles in will not be lined with a black film after burning. In the long run, you will notice that your walls are cleaner too. If you burn candles a lot, and they haven’t been natural wax candles, you may have noticed that when you took a picture off the wall that there was an area under the spot where the picture was removed that was cleaner than the surrounding wall. Yes, the black on the walls in the other areas, could have been caused by traditionally made candles.

Also consider that you and your family may have been breathing in some unhealthy particles too!

Burn-Time:

There are many factors which affect how long a candle will burn once it is lit but in general all other factors being equal, the natural wax candles will burn longer than traditional paraffin candles.

The length of the wick is very important for candle safety and is a big factor in how long a candle burns. With natural-wax candles the wick should be trimmed to 1/4″ before it is lit. This will ensure an even burning and a longer lasting candle.

Avoid burning a candle in a draft to make it last longer and also do not burn it under a ceiling fan.

In summary, scented candles help set a mood for fun and romance and can add warmth and coziness to your home.

Enjoy the candles you choose and burn them in good health!

I hope this article will help you make an informed decision and buy from a reputable candle maker the next time you are in the market for a candle to pamper your senses or those of a friend.

Home renters never imagine staying in one place forever and usually don’t but that doesn’t mean they have to live with the basic, boring walls, carpets, windows and general style that rental houses come with. There are several simple, easy steps one can take that can turn that house for rent into a home.

*Furniture: When buying furniture stay away from matched sets, instead look for one of a kind pieces that will bring character and charm to a room. If you’re considering a lamp then look for a lampshade this is unique, when searching for a bed, look for a funky headboard. Enhance your living room couch with a end table that has intricately carved legs or is made from wrought iron. These added pieces will bring a level of style and sophistication to your home helping rid the place of the blahs rentals suffer from.

*Carpet: Although you probably won’t be able to replace the carpet a great first step is to steam clean it. From there a cool area rug can liven any dull carpet. Don’t be afraid to use color and patterns here, especially if you’re dealing with the traditional brown or beige carpet scheme.

*Windows: The standard-issue blinds that come in most houses for rent don’t have to be a sore spot, try topping them with a valance. Simply place a rod (try to keep it decorative here) over the window and then take some unique fabric (again with the decorative here) and drape it over the rod. There are plenty of photos with examples of this technique online, do a Google image search for valance and you’ll understand the idea.

*Wall: It’s not uncommon for a landlord to allow a tenant to paint walls, providing they repaint them before leaving and if your landlord is of such an attitude then this is one area you can make a dramatic difference in transforming your rental house into a home that reflects your personality. If your landlord is not of such ilk there are alternatives including; covering the wall with fabric, again keeping color in mind, or using a folding screen or even an old funky door against the wall. These last two won’t change the color but can certainly bring personality into the room. Using bookshelves and stocking them with not only books but unique pottery, glassware and knick knacks (don’t go crazy here) is another alternative to dressing up a white wall.

Whether it’s a rental house or a home you are buying, taking the time to find pieces, colors and using some or all of the techniques above will turn your house for rent into your home to live in, no matter how long that is.

The spirit of the Wild West lives on in rustic inspired Western lighting. Light fixtures come adorned with pinecones, antlers and bears, as well as wildlife: trout, deer, elk, and buffalo. For the sportsman or woman, inspirational themed lamps decorated with croquet, snowshoes, bow and arrow, fishing reel, and boat paddles can enhance the décor of a country cabin, farmhouse, or home in the mountains. For a step back to frontier days, wagon wheel chandeliers and tin punched lighting offer unique turn of the century decoration. To get you going on your Western lighting décor consider these three fixture options:

Bear lamps and chandeliers

Generally speaking, these lamps, sconces and chandeliers capture a bear scene: you will find bears and cubs climbing trees or walking among pine trees. Capturing the spirit, bear figures tend to be either 3 dimensional; or one dimensional, decorating the lamp’s shade, base, or both. Look for sconces, vanities and chandeliers with decorative bear scenes cut out of metal. These art fixtures are wonderful and tend to include soft rust finishes and amber mica shades. Bear lamps often include shades made from faux leather.

Wagon wheel chandeliers

These fixtures tend to be made as either authentic or reproduction chandeliers. The difference is obvious: the materials. Authentic wagon wheel chandeliers (up light or down light models) will be made from true antique wagon wheels, whereas reproductions are typically made from a lightweight durable material such as medium density polyethylene. Reproductions (up light or down light models) should come with all the necessary parts: chain, globe or hurricane lights, and light fixture. So what’s the difference? Price! An authentic wagon wheel chandelier will certainly cost you more: could be as much as 4 times the cost of a reproduction. However, with an authentic fixture you gain a true haunt from the past and a great conversation piece.

Antler lighting

Similar to the wagon wheel chandelier above, an antler light fixtures can be purchased as reproduction or authentic. Absolutely no harm is caused to a deer or elk in the creation of an antler lamp or chandelier. Antlers are typically collected on the deer trails where annual antler shedding occurs. If you are choosing an authentic antler fixture expect to spend considerably more than for a reproduction. (Each fixture is unique and handcrafted). Reproduction antler fixtures are made from molds of actual antlers. These pieces tend to be more lightweight (an advantage in many homes).

Every day we are influenced by what is around us… the words that are said, the smells we smell, the sights we take in. The goal of feng shui is to promote beauty, harmony, and aspiration, the raising of our sights toward lofty, noble, and worthwhile goals.

The poet Maya Angelou said that we must be careful about the words we speak because the words will “hang on the walls.” Of course, she is talking about what we do in the figurative sense. However it is also true of what we hang on our walls in the literal sense. That’s why it is important that we surround ourselves with uplifting sights.

Feng shui encourages the application of beautiful, sustaining images. Pictures and artwork of depressing subjects, violence, or pictures whose presence makes us sad or unhappy are not suitable or appropriate for the walls of our home. Instead, only those images that are inspiring, uplifting, and beautiful should be placed on the walls.

Fortunately, you can practice symbolic feng shui by the selection of certain images, such as people, happy occasions, beauty, wealth, or power. Particular pictures in feng shui have special meanings and can be used wherever you desire more interest. For instance, a poster or painting of a water fall is an excellent way to boost career feng shui — and income!

When you are looking to improve your feng shui, consider simply looking around. Then, see if the images you are looking at are saying what you want them to. If not, consider replacing those images with pictures that make a positive, uplifting statement. Check the tips below for more ideas of positive feng shui images.

1. Use beautiful water images for career or wealth help.
When placed in the north sector of the home, living room, or office, these images can provide an immediate boost to the career. To boost career chi in the bedroom (or anywhere!) consider adding an image of a tortoise.

Images of waterfalls and lakes are also appropriate for the southeast wealth sector. For more career or wealth help, consider adding a picture of a ship sailing INTO your home or office. Ships are especially auspicious harbingers of coming wealth. Do consider adding a ship picture in the southwest, where it will help with relationships AND wealth because water is beneficial in the SW until 2023.

2. Gain recognition, friends, and beneficial relationships with images of happy people.
Looking for more friends or a more active social life? Maybe even FAME? Pictures of happy occasions and happy people are EXCELLENT ways to bring more people into your life, as well as happier relationships, and greater social recognition. Pictures such as the ones below are excellent for enhancing your social status, both personally and professionally.

These can be hung in the south or southwest corners. Other good choices for the south and southwest are horses and birds. Horses hung in the southwest sector can offer a good chance of travel, so be prepared if you hang a picture of a horse here!

3. Receive help from mentors and influential people with images in the NW.
To receive help from those in the position to offer you advancement in your career, studies, or life in general, you need to enhance your “Power People” sector. This is the NW corner of your home, living room, or office.

Images of international scenes such as the Eiffel tower, the tower of London, the pyramids of Giza, and other scenes are excellent for receiving help from all corners of the globe. Likewise, images of metal structures, circular images, and golden or metallic colors are all excellent choices.

Maps, pictures of maps, globes, etc. are all beneficial for the NW sector of your home, office, or living room. Because this is the “heaven” location, this is also a wonderful location for pictures and images of religious figures or dieties, angels, or religious locations such as Jerusalem or Mecca. Grand people such as Albert Einstein, Martin Luther King, Ghandi, or world leaders are also wonderful choices for increasing Powerful People help.

Be sure to surround yourself with pictures of people or places that you aspire to and that inspire you. We must all have something that lifts us up and makes us want to achieve more and aim higher in our lives. Find a picture that symbolizes that FOR YOU.

4. Avoid depressing, negative, or violent images.
Do you have images in your home that remind you of something sad, mean, violent, or failure? If so, these images are constantly reinforcing these negative messages. Look around and if you have any pictures or elements like this, consider replacing them. Otherwise, these images will continue to imbue your home with negative energy. Yes, even if your picture is considered “fine art”, it is not worth sacrificing the energy of your home for this investment in negativity.

Windchimes are one of feng shui’s hardest working remedies. Their role is to bring aid in many forms – from lifting chi from a troubled area to suppressing energy in corners where there are negative stars to bringing you good news and help from influential people!

With all they can do, windchimes are a valuable source and important tool in your feng shui arsenal. In short, windchimes have two main roles: to cure or energize.

But to get the most out of windchimes, it’s important to note that there are several distinctions regarding windchimes, such as type, number of rods, and so on.

Knowing these distinctions will help you use windchimes effectively — and correctly – an important consideration if you are looking to achieve a specific result, such as greater recognition, more career help, or better health. Take a look at the information below to learn more about windchimes and how to use them effectively in feng shui.

Windchime Materials

Windchimes are made of a number of materials: ceramic, glass, metal, or wood. The type of material selected will depend on what you are trying to achieve and where you want to place the windchime.

Metal: Place in the west, NW, and north.

Wood/Bamboo: Place in the east, SE, and South

Ceramic/Glass: Place in the NE or SW

Hollow vs. Solid Rods

There is debate about rod types. Both solid rod and hollow rods work equally well. However, if you want to energize an area, such as your career sector in the north, you should always use hollow rods. That’s because hollow rods lift chi. Solid rods should be used when you are trying to press down chi, but hollow rods will also work just as well.

Rod Numbers Matter

As a general rule, the number of rods is relevant to where you are placing the windchime and what you intend to use it for. You should also observe number placement.

That is, the number of rods should be correct for the area where you are using it, such as using four rods in the SE because four is the number of the SE. The number of rods best for each area can be found below.

To energize an area using windchimes follow these recommendations:

North (career/Opportunities):

Single metal winchimes, bell, or six-rod metal hollow metal chimes.

NE, SW (relationships, personal growth, education): Ceramic or glass chimes. Use five, eight, or two rods.

East (family relationships, health): Bamboo or wooden chimes; three rods.

Southeast (wealth): Bamboo or wooden chimes; four rods. Or choose windchimes with fish or water themes.

South (recognition, fame): Bamboo, wooden, or metal chimes with three, four, or 9 rods (9 is best).

West (children, creativity): Metal chimes with seven or six rods.

To overcome an affliction such as a toilet or problem area, use these windchime guidelines

Wood chimes: place these in the NE or SW
Metal chimes: place a metal chime in the east or SE
Ceramic/glass: place in the north sector if there is an affliction

Some Windchime Do’s and Don’ts

–Don’t hang a windchime over a door so that either you or your door hit it

–Don’t hang windchimes in trees. The metal in the tree causes the elements to clash. Wood chimes are OK in trees.

–Don’t hang a windchime over where you sit, eat, work, or sleep so that you are directly under it.

–DO hang the appropriate windchime for the direction your front door faces on either side of your front door if your door faces a parking lot, an oncoming road, or other obstacle, such as poison arrow, tree, etc.

–DO hang a windchime in an area where there are more than two doors in a straight line

–DO use a 5-rod hollow or solid chime for bathrooms in east, SE, NW, S, or west sectors

–DO use a hollow wood chime for bathrooms located in the center, SW, or NW sectors

–DO use pagoda-shaped chimes with hollow rods as energizers

–DO use six sets of six-rod hollow chimes to mark off a missing NW corner – helpful if you are looking to attract a man if you are single, gain more help from influential people, or help the patriarch of a household.

The front door plays a very special role in feng shui. Often described as the “mouth of chi,” the front door, is the entryway for energy into your home. Many people never use the actual front door, though, so they often ask if this affects their feng shui. The answer is yes. That’s because the front door is usually at the center of the home and faces the road — a symbol of water — which equates to wealth.

A key feature of the front door is that it normally is designed to face the view of a road, street, or other feature, such as a lake. Sometimes a house has a tremendous view of a valley or view of the city or lake at the back of the house.

In that case, the “facing direction” of a house is where the most “yang” energy exists. In these cases, it would be at the rear of the house because of these terrific views. Architecturally, some houses are very small at the front and large and expansive at the rear. This would make the “front” wherever the large, open, and expansive side or view is.

Again, this is uncommon, but it does affect what is considered the front or facing direction. So, look at your house to determine the most “yang side” when you are trying to determine where the front door is on your house. (For more information, see the Red Lotus Letter issue on Determining Your Facing Direction.)

Use the door intended by the architect

More common, is the broad expanse and open front of a house that is positioned facing the street. The door also normally faces the street. This is the most typical situation and it remains the standard arrangement for most houses — and it’s the door intended as the front door by the architect. It is also the place where a delivery person will go if they’ve never been to your house. Now that we have that established, let’s talk about why the “real” front door is so important.

The front door to the house is the doorway of energy. Because it faces the street (a conduit for water), this is an opportunity for wealth energy to enter the house. Therefore, every time you enter your home through the front door, you will be activating the entryway and creating an opportunity for wealth to enter your house.

The front door is also a location of opportunity…and we all know that opportunities often bring greater wealth (raises, increased salaries, windfalls) with them. Also, a house that never has the front door opened is a house that’s low in energy — and that impacts wealth. Because the street is usually in front of the house (which means “water” is at the front), opening the door allows water energy to enter in the front of the house — the ideal location for water in feng shui.

Enter through a side door and watch money slip from your hands

Many people frequently ask if they no longer use the front door and enter the house from the side, or a kitchen door, or a garage door, should they consider that as their “front door”? The answer: absolutely NOT. I will usually ask that person if they are experiencing financial difficulties. In fact, most all have severe financial problems. Use the front door if you would like those problems to lessen.

Enter through the laundry room, kitchen, etc. and see your finances suffer

If you enter the house through a laundry room, you are watching your money go down the drain symbolically, with bills larger than you expected. If you enter through the kitchen, you’ll literally “burn through the cash” with one expense cropping up after another — and it could cause you to gain weight if the kitchen is the first thing you see when you enter the house.

Still, knowing that the front door is so important to enter, many people still insist on using a back door or side door out of convenience. If you are entering through a garage or kitchen or other service room or porch, you are harming your opportunities for more money to come to you. In light of that, isn’t it a good idea to use the front door?

After all, we create beautiful entry areas and if they’re only used by solicitors, delivery people, or the occasional visitor, you’re wasting an opportunity to bring more energy — and more wealth — into your home. You might also find that opportunities suddenly appear when you begin using your front door. Why use your front door and beautiful foyer only for a delivery person, mailman, or visitors? After all, you are the most important person to enter your house. So treat yourself as good — or better — than anyone else by using the front door every day.

Although laminate bamboo flooring is very durable and resistant to moisture, it still needs to be cared for correctly if you want it to last a long time. Remember that you have spent money on buying and installing flooring that looks beautiful and now you want it to stay the same as the day when it was installed.

In this article we will look at the steps you will need to carry out to maintain and care for your flooring after it has been installed.

Following are some of the commonsense things you should remember when it comes to caring and maintaining your bamboo laminate flooring.

1. Never drag or push furniture across it, instead carry it.

2. If you can, purchase felt or rubber mats that you can place under each leg of the furniture in the room as this will stop damage being caused by pressure being placed on the flooring.

3. To protect the flooring as people walk into the room place non-abrasive mats or rugs at the doorway entrance to the room. Remember this is where a lot of traffic will pass over the floor.

4. If you have pets then make sure their nails are kept trimmed. Unfortunately dogs and cats when they either walk or run across the floor are going to cause slight damage (scratches) if their nails are too long.

5. If any spills occur then make sure that you clean these up immediately with a damp cloth and then wipe over the area with a dry soft cloth or towel afterwards.

6. You should regularly sweep the floor with a soft bristled broom and then clean it with a mop and some mild soapy water.

But the best thing you can do in order to ensure that your bamboo flooring stays in the best condition possible is to follow the manufacturer’s instructions at all times.

The first thing that you should do is read the manufacturer’s instructions on how to care and maintain it. If the instructions are not clear, you can contact the manufacturer direct. They are the best qualified to tell you how to look after your bamboo flooring.

Just look up their website and not only will they have a customer service number that you can call in order to talk to someone direct, but they more than likely they will have a helpful hints and tips section that will tell you exactly how to care for your flooring once it has been installed.

Upholstery fabric stains present larger problems than your average clothing stain, for one, the cost of replacing a sofa or chair is much larger than a shirt or skirt. We’ve tried to make it easy with our top ten tips for getting rid of unsightly sofa stains.

Upholstery fabrics made from natural fibres and/or dyes or finishes may require special treatment so it’s wise to heed the advice of your upholstery fabric manufacturer. Fortunately most have made it easy for us by categorizing their fabrics according to these simple codes:

S – Solvent clean (that is “dry-cleaning”)

W – Water clean

WS – Water or Solvent clean

X – No liquids, vacuum clean only

Where accidents happen, follow these tried and tested steps towards fast and easy stain removal:

1. Always test your chosen potion on an inconspicuous area of your upholstery before applying to your stain, and analyze the result.

2. Act fast: as a rule of thumb, the longer a stain sits, the harder it is to remove so fast action is definitely a step in the right direction.

3. Wet stains – blot a white cloth on the area to absorb any excess moisture. Do not rub.

4. Thick stains – leave the stain to dry and brush off the residue.

5. For non-protein based fabrics (ie. “W” or “WS” fabrics: acetate, herculon, nylon, olefin and polyester), rinse the stain in pure water, blot with a white cloth, rinse, blot, rinse, until the stain disappears. For more stubborn stains rub in a mild, water soluable detergent into the area in a circular fashion, and then continue the rinse, blot, rinse cycle again until the stain lifts.

6. For protein based fabrics (ie. “S” fabrics: cotton, linen, rayon, silk and wool) apply water free solvents or dry cleaning products (to avoid water stains) to the area and gently rub, rinse and blot.

7. Blood: mix 2 tablespoons of table salt with 1 quart of water and apply the rinse, blot, rinse technique. If the stain persists, try applying a diluted solution of hydrogen peroxide.

8. Organic dye stains like juice, wine, mustard: spot clean with water-based cleaner ie. Stain magic, or dab with a mixture of 1 part vinegar and three parts water.

9. Red Wine: mix equal parts of soap detergent and hydrogen peroxide and rub, or dash or spray over your stain. Keep in mind that they hydrogen peroxide could well lighten some dyes so test this method first.

10. Ink: spray hairspray on the area and wash as usual.

Upholstery fabric manufacturers usually suggest regular vacuuming to remove dust and allergens from fabric, as well as professional upholstery cleaning once per year to maximize the life of the fabric.